We are honoured by your participation at this our 10th year anniversary celebration conference on philanthropy and Africa’s development. By honouring us with your presence and recognising this significant milestone together with us, you are contributing to the process of shaping our future. As we mark TrustAfrica’s 10-year anniversary we are also unveiling TrustAfrica’s new strategy for the period 2016 – 2020. Our goal under the new strategy is to advance political economic and social justice in Africa by tackling a number of priority thematic issues. These issues which have found expression in the African Union’s Agenda 2063, the African Mining Vision, the African Union’s Transitional Justice Policy Framework as well as the Sustainable Development Goals will be a major focus of the next phase of TrustAfrica’s programming. We are humbled by your support not only today but in the decade that has brought us to this point. We welcome you. Thank you.

TrustAfrica's International Criminal Justice (ICJ) Fund hosted the first in a series of pan­African convenings it is organizing this year for advocacy and human rights groups on best practices in advancing international criminal justice on the continent. This meeting took place in Dakar, Senegal on the theme "Engaging with International Criminal Justice in Africa: Lessons Learned in Mobilization and Advocacy".

The AGN finally managed to successfully host its bi-annual assembly in Arusha, Tanzania. The assembly was initially supposed to have been held in Accra in 2014 but the Ebola outbreak and the Government of Ghana's subsequent ban on International Conferences left the organizers with no choice but to look for an alternative venue. It was worth waiting for. The discussions that took place focused on the significance of the emergent African philanthropy sector, its aspirations without being naïve to the potential constraints and pitfalls in the African and global context and the role of African philanthropy in promoting social justice across sectors. In this article I will focus on some of the difficult conversations that took place regarding the space, role and future of African philanthropy.

has joined the programme team. She leads the Foundation's agricultural advocacy work. El-hadj Diallo has joined the finance unit as the accounting assistant and Paul Takow Takow has joined as Communications Officer. Sunday Khan now serves as the Interim Programme Director. Read more aboutour staff.

With this issue of TrustAfrica Now, we are pleased to share some of the latest work we've been doing with our partners these past months. They are making headway on some of the toughest issues we face, mounting creative responses and advancing a shared vision of democratic governance and truly equitable development.

In this spirit, we convened over 500 leaders from education, government and civil society in Dakar in March to chart a new course for higher education. Since then, the summit's declaration and action plan has been presented and adopted at the African Union heads of state meeting, which in June resolved to establish a committee made up of ten heads of state who will propose the next steps for revitalizing higher education across our continent.

Other galvanizing events TrustAfrica has supported includes a summit of seasoned activists advocating for international criminal justice in Africa hosted by our ICJ Fund in May; and the launch of the "Stop the Bleeding" campaign which seeks to curb the illegal departure each year of some US$50 billion from Africa, a staggering loss that we must reverse.

And in July, the African Philanthropy Network met in Arusha to examine how to harness people, policy and practice to improve African giving for Africa's development.

I take heart at the important, steady advances described below, and hope you will too.

Tendai Murisa

Executive Director

TrustAfrica

Renewing Africa's commitment to Higher Education

In June 2015, at the 25th session of the General Assembly of the African Union in Johannesburg, President Macky Sall of Senegal tabled the African Higher Education Summit Declaration and Action Plan for adoption by African Heads of State. The declaration and plan was the result of a March summit in Dakar that was sponsored by TrustAfrica and its partners. Read more...

Campaigning to curb Illicit Financial Flows

"Stop the Bleeding: Campaign to End Illicit Financial Flows from Africa" is the attention-grabbing name of a new campaign launched in June. Aimed at halting the enormous outflow of the continent's monetary resources, the initiative is envisaged as a campaign rooted in African experiences and reinforced by global Africa solidarity linkages. It is being carried out by TrustAfrica and a group of African civil society organisations with the aim of mobilising students and youth, trade unions and grassroots social movements to raise their voices for change.Read more...

An Invitation

At TrustAfrica, we believe that Africans must set the agenda for--and lead--our continent's transformation. As an independent foundation, we are made stronger and more able to deliver on our mission with your support. We warmly invite you tomake a donation today. We thank you.

Contributions to TrustAfrica, a 501(c)(3) organization that has earned the GuideStar Exchange Seal, are tax deductible in the United States to the full extent allowed by law. Please consider making a donation today to qualify for a tax deduction this calendar year.

A smallholder farmer convening on 24-25 November in Johannesburg, South Africa brought together advocates and other stakeholders engaged in policy reform in seven African countries. Entitled "Strengthening Smallholder Agriculture in Africa: Prospects for Mobilization and Advocacy", the convening was part of a multiyear partnership with the Bill & Melinda Gates Foundation supporting the emergence of a strong community of advocates who will hold governments to account for better policies on smallholder agriculture.See photos.

A September 2014 conference sponsored by our grantee, Africa Legal Aid in Johannesburg examined Africa's relationship with the International Criminal Court, with a focus on lessons learned and future priorities. Speakers included Navi Pillay, former UN High Commissioner for Human Rights, Judge Florence Mumba, who served on the International Criminal Tribunal for the Former Yugoslavia, and Fatou Bensouda, Prosecutor of the ICC. A full report is available on AFLA's website.

A June regional gathering at the Southern African Litigation Center addressed ways to end impunity for crimes of atrocity by strengthening domestic mechanisms for international crime. Read more about our work in international criminal justice.

It is with great pleasure that I address you as TrustAfrica's new executive director, having received the baton, so to speak, from Akwasi Aidoo at the start of October. I begin with a tremendous sense of optimism, based on the great energy and passion with which our partners are advancing good governance and equitable development on our continent. I look forward to working with you to realize our vision over the coming weeks, months and years.

There is much news to share with you, but we start with a gathering we hosted to honor the truly remarkable Akwasi on his departure.

NGO and academic leaders from across the continent joined us on 30 September to discuss African philanthropy, a field to which Akwasi Aidoo has made an immense contribution. We addressed such issues as what it would mean to have more African resources in play and what would it take for African philanthropy to be more rooted in communities. In a closing talk, Akwasi shared a vision in which the field takes up a "transformative agenda" that addresses systemic injustice. He strongly endorsed support for people and organizations involved in arts and culture, quoting Nigerian author Chris Abani in calling them our "curators of humanity." Watch excerpts of Akwasi's talk.

In August, members of civil society from Southern Africa came together in Bulawayo, Zimbabwe to map out ways to stop illicit financial flows out of Africa. Recognizing that IFFs are a major obstacle to inclusive development, we are working with allies across the continent and in partnership with the Ford Foundation to advocate for effective policies. We have supported similar convenings in Nairobi, Abuja, and Johannesburg. In order to help fill knowledge gaps, we have teamed up with the Southern Africa Research and Documentation Centre to launch the IFF database which features more than 200 documents and 50 experts. Coming up:TrustAfrica and partners will launch a global Stop the Bleeding campaign to build mass momentum to curb illicit financial flows.

Understanding Africa's Wealthy Givers

UBS and TrustAfrica have just released a new report that draws on a survey of nearly 100 African philanthropists as well as interviews with a number of experts. Africa's Wealthy Give Back offers insight into donors' motivations and the source and scope of their giving. It also reveals the unique nature of African philanthropy, which has seen tremendous growth in the past 15 years. Recommendations include: sharing best practice through networks tailored to the African context; developing regulations to encourage increased giving; and moving toward more strategic philanthropy and impact measurement. These are solid recommendations that can strengthen the field, ensuring that it plays a key role in our continent's development. Read the report.

TrustAfrica Joins Coalition to Fight Ebola

TrustAfrica has joined Africa Responds, a coalition of African and diaspora organizations raising funds to fight Ebola at the grassroots level, where resources are urgently needed. The coalition also seeks to foster accurate information and nuanced dialogue which can be lost in an atmosphere of fear. Funds raised will provide more protective equipment and healthcare supplies, help raise awareness and support individuals who are infected and their families. #UnitedAgainstEbola #AfricaResponds

A Warm Welcome

We extend a warm welcome to our new board members, Assefa Bequele, economist, expert on child rights and executive director of the African Child Policy Forum in Ethiopia, and Karim Tazi, a leading private sector entrepreneur who heads the Richbond Group in Morocco. Read more about our board.

We are pleased to announce that Nadia Ahidjo has joined the programme team, Fatoumata Sall has joined as webmaster and Briggs Bomba now directs our programme on illicit financial flows. Read more about our staff.

An Invitation

At TrustAfrica, we believe that Africans must set the agenda for--and lead--our continent's transformation. As an independent foundation, we are made stronger and more able to deliver on our mission with your support. We warmly invite you to make a donation today. We thank you.

Contributions to TrustAfrica, a 501(c)(3) organization that has earned the GuideStar Exchange Seal, are tax deductible in the United States to the full extent allowed by law. Please consider making a donation today to qualify for a tax deduction this calendar year.

Now that we've closed the books on our 2010 fiscal year, which ended on March 31, we're taking stock of what was, by any measure, our busiest and most successful year to date. We not only doubled our grant making, but also made significant strides to strengthen our operations, undertaking an internal audit of our grant files and upgrading our computer systems. With your support, we're determined to achieve even more this year.

This edition of TrustAfrica Now describes some of our most significant activities and accomplishment in recent months.

Making Grants to Support African Civil Society

In our busiest year to date, we awarded nearly $4 million

With the close of our fiscal year on March 31, we have updated our searchable online grants database. This past year we awarded $3.9 million through 106 grants to partner organizations in 18 African countries and the Diaspora. Highlights include several clusters of grants related to smallholder agriculture, gender violence and women's political participation, civil society in Liberia, higher education, economic governance and business and investment.

More than 30 smallholder farmers and civil society leaders from East, West and Southern Africa gathered March 14-19 in Lilongwe, Malawi, for our training workshop to strengthen advocacy for sustainable and equitable agricultural development. Together, they learned about global and continental agriculture policies, explored strategies for engaging in public advocacy, and acquired skills needed to participate effectively in government budget processes. Through this initiative, we also recently published a set of scoping studies that assess the strengths and needs of relevant advocacy organizations in five African nations. We then made several grants to build the capacity of civil society organizations that are working to amplify the voices of smallholder farmers and bring their needs and concerns to the attention of policy makers.

With Dakar playing host to the 2011 World Social Forum, we convened a roundtable on artists, social change and development. Magamba Cultural Activist Network and Africulturban joined us in organizing the event, which looked at how artists are using art for civic engagement and what role foundations can play in supporting such initiatives. Artists and cultural activists from numerous countries shared ideas and experiences, enlightening foundations and partners on how to support such work. The roundtable explored questions such as: how do artists amplify their voices to become central in development, democracy and governance? How do we measure artistic impact in these critical fields?

Together with the Southern Africa Trust, we have published a 429-page book about the legislative environment for civil society in 18 countries in Central, East and Southern Africa. Edited by Bhekinkosi Moyo, our program director, (Dis) Enabling the Public Sphere: Civil Society Regulation in Africa (Volume 1) also features a foreword by Graça Machel. It is available in hardcover, softcover and PDF format. The book was formally launched at recent dialogues in Dakar, Senegal, and Pretoria, South Africa.

Dozens of women activists from seven Francophone African countries gathered in Bamako, Mali, on Jan. 17-23 for an intensive training workshop. The "boot camp," designed to strengthen the capacity of organizations supported through our MDG3 Project, brought together leaders from civil society, grassroots movements and political parties. Together, they built practical knowledge and skills for developing and conducting effective advocacy campaigns.

We're looking for a dynamic, energetic and self-driven individual to serve as Project Director for our initiative to strengthen civil society capacity for policy engagement in Liberia. Based in Monrovia, the position entails overseeing our grant making, technical assistance and peer-learning activities. Our goal is to build a strong, vibrant, and credible nongovernmental sector that responds more readily to the needs and aspirations of the Liberian people.

Janet Naumi Mawiyoo joined our Board of Trustees in February. She is chief executive officer of the Kenya Community Development Foundation, the only public national foundation in Kenya, which works to promote sustainable development through social investments and grant making that empowers disadvantaged and vulnerable groups. She previously worked at the Kenyan Ministry of Culture and Social Services, the Ministry of Technical Training and Applied Technology, the Norwegian Agency for Development and ActionAid International, both in Kenya and in Tanzania, where she rose to the position of country director. Ms. Mawiyoo holds a Bachelor's degree in social work from Nairobi University, a Master's degree in economics from the University of Manchester (UK), where she specialized in development administration and management, and a postgraduate diploma in organizational development.

Sibongile Mkhabela also joined our Board in February. She is chief executive officer of the Nelson Mandela Children's Fund, which works to improve the lives of poor children and youth and which has grown under her leadership to R500m/$50m. She is now on a two-year secondment to head the Nelson Mandela Children's Hospital, one of the Fund's signature initiatives. With a degree in social work and several graduate diplomas, Bongi (as she is known to friends) has held senior positions at the United Nations Development Programme, United Nations Education Programme and South African Council of Churches. She also served as Programs Director in the office then-Deputy President Thabo Mbeki, overseeing strategic projects including NGO/government partnerships and children's programs. In 2004 she was awarded a Joel L. Fleishman Civil Society Fellowship by Duke University (USA). As a student leader, Bongi was an executive member of the Soweto Students Representative Council and general secretary of the South African Students Movement, two driving forces behind the nationwide revolt on June 16, 1976, often hailed as the beginning of the end of apartheid. Charged with sedition in the Soweto 11 trial, she was imprisoned for three years. Following her release in 1982, she wrote a stirring account of the uprising, Open Earth and Black Roses.

Facoumba Gueye joined TrustAfrica in February 2011 as Program Assistant for the Investment Climate and Business Environment (ICBE) Research Fund. She previously worked as a research assistant for the Emergence Consulting Group, a Senegalese firm where she specialized in development strategies. Keenly interested in the field of development and in international solidarity, she has also served as a volunteer in project development for the Digital Freedom Initiative, a project financed by USAID in Senegal, and as the project assistant for eRider Senegal, an ICT support program financed by the Open Society Initiative for West Africa. Ms. Gueye will soon defend her Master's thesis in human resource economics. She holds other certificates in the field of business development and the economics of knowledge and innovation. She speaks French and is working on her English.

Aminata Seck has been consulting for our grants administration team since October 2010. Her thorough internal audit of our grant files is bringing greater clarity and efficiency to our grants administration system and processes. Aminata previously worked at Oxfam GB and Save the Children UK. She earned a Licence in history at the Sorbonne and a Master's degree in marketing at l'Institut Supérieur de Management (ISM) in Dakar. She is now working on a Master's in project management at ISM.

Amélie Traore, who has assisted our accounting team on several occasions over the past year, stepped in full-time from September to March while our staff accountant took maternity leave. Amélie holds graduate degrees in audit and management control and in accounting and finance. She has previously worked at FocusAfrica and the African Centre for Advanced Studies in Management (CESAG), both in Dakar, and at Cabinet Rosette Nacro in her native Burkina Faso.

Social networking sites are a great way to stay in touch with TrustAfrica — and to exchange ideas with others who share an interest in democracy and development in Africa. On Twitter and Facebook, we post short, timely reflections about issues of the day. On Picasa, we showcase photos of our events and the work of our grantees. On YouTube, we present interviews and videos about our work and the challenges facing Africa.

We extend a heartfelt thanks to all who responded to our last appeal for support. Your crucial contributions sustain our work and reduce our reliance on institutional donors.

Contributions to TrustAfrica, a 501(c)(3) organization that has earned the GuideStar Exchange Seal, are tax deductible in the United States to the full extent allowable by law. Please consider making a donation today to qualify for a tax deduction this calendar year.

TrustAfrica is dedicated to securing the conditions for democratic governance and equitable development in Africa, and we can't do it without people like you. We hope you'll visit our website and blog often, follow us on Facebook and Twitter, read about our workshops and grant making, and join our $100 per year campaign.

With your help, TrustAfrica is reaching out more than ever to make an impact around the continent. We are convening and sponsoring meetings (our grantee spotlight comes from the recent gender conference we co-sponsored), writing books to help strengthen civil society and the legislative process and making videos about the amazing strides our grantees have made combating gender violence. Earlier this week, the news reported the death of Dr. Wangari Maathai, a great activist and the first African woman to win the Nobel Peace Prize for her work on the environment, women's rights and human rights. While we mourn her loss, one can't help but reflect on her story--a poignant reminder that the work all of us do can impact the world in unimaginable ways. The TrustAfrica/Liberia office, in collaboration with ActionAid/Liberia will be holding a vigil in honor of Dr. Maathai on Thursday, November 29. More details to come. In the meantime, we hope you'll take a look at what's below and keep us informed of your latest developments.

Conference Inspires Innovative Business Approaches

"The Business of Social and Environmental Innovation" to take place in Cape Town, November 14-16

How can you inspire innovation while making a contribution towards achieving some of the Millennium Development Goals? TrustAfrica is proud to be a co-sponsor for a conference entitled "The Business of Social and Environmental Innovation" (BSEI) which will take place at the University of Cape Town Graduate School of Business in Cape Town, South Africa on November 14-16, 2011.

The conference will bring together academics, entrepreneurs and practitioners who will present scholarly contributions, as well as case studies, on the projects they have been working on to address these challenges. BSEI seeks to identify and highlight some of the existing partnerships, both formal and informal, that occur between the private sector, governments, civil society and academia; share best practices; and inspire creative thinking and innovative approaches to pressing social and environmental issues.

The conference will start with an optional fieldtrip to explore some of the Cape's townships where participants can get a feel for the social needs and business opportunities there. During the proceedings, participants will be able to choose from parallel sessions where scholarly papers will be presented; dedicated sessions and dynamic discussions with entrepreneurs and practitioners will also be offered.

Seven of the papers that will be presented are from studies paid for by the Investment Climate and Business Environment (ICBE) Research Fund, a project supported by TrustAfrica and the International Development and Research Center (IDRC).

For more information on the Conference, including how to register and costs, please visit the Conference Website. A reduced conference registration fee is available to students.

Former grant recipient crosses over and shares her thoughts on fighting the good fight

On the outside, Dr .Nestorine Compaoré has the comportment of a high-ranking government official. Intelligent, thoughtful, well-dressed, articulate, she is at ease speaking to everyone. One could easily believe that she came to her current position as a civil servant through the usual channels. However, once Dr. Compaoré begins to discuss her favorite subject, gender, the activist in her emerges. Her eyes light up, her speech quickens and you can almost see the ideas travel through her as she transmits them to the listener.

Her story is unusual in that there was no straight line that took her to where she is today. From 2002-2009, she was working three full-time jobs: gender advisor for the Center of Democratic Governance in Burkina Faso, gender consultant at the Dutch Embassy, and lecturer on gender at the University of Ouagadougou. However, she was dissatisfied with the available information on gender in Burkina Faso and realized that her country needed better gender resources. She decided to end her consultancy and create the Center for Research and Intervention in Gender and Development (CRIGED). Using her own financing, as well as fundraising, little by little she developed the center to where it is today.

"I realized that most experts have good ideas, but if you don't have a site, people can't transform their ideas into action; they lose energy," she said. "When I worked with civil society, it gave me an opportunity to push for a cause I believed in. That's why I changed my position from the donor side to civil society."

CRIGED is a technical center for research on gender and development; it provides technical support to all stakeholders including government, civil society, universities, women's networks, etc. It also provides monitoring and evaluation on issues of gender and development, and serves as a tool for capacity building of organizations, including advocacy work and activities related to impacting gender policies. With the support of TrustAfrica (including several grants to build capacity for gender organizations) and a host of other donors, CRIGED has become the "go-to" resource for information on gender issues in West Africa.

After developing such a successful organization, one would think Dr. Compaoré would at last feel satisfied, but fate had other plans. In early 2011, she was asked to be Minister for the Promotion of Women.

"When I changed sides to join civil society, I realized I lost a lot of power, in terms of the consideration and attention I had from previous colleagues and ministries because I was no longer a donor--just someone who wanted change."

Dr. Compaoré views her position as Minister as a chance to work within the system to affect change. "This position gives me an opportunity to improve the legal provisions, build capacity of actors, CSOs, ministries, the first lady, even the President himself. It is important to sensitize people on gender."

Few people can work for civil society, donor organizations and the government on a cause they feel passionate about. Her experience has afforded Dr. Compaoré a unique vantage point on how to win in the struggle for gender equality. "I started to understand things differently, because sometimes I think we judge people without knowing their constraints. When you know their constraints, instead of being confrontational, which discourages them and affects them in the wrong way, you can be more comprehensive and constructive."

We are proud to showcase our latest video, a documentary on our Enhancing Women's Dignity project, which seeks to stop gender violence and increase women's political participation in seven French-speaking countries in Central and West Africa.

The film was shot on-location in several of the project countries, including the Democratic Republic of Congo, Senegal and Mali, where it documents the activities of women who are leading the way to improve their socio-economic conditions and increase their political representation. The project began in June 2009 with an MDG3 Fund grant from the Netherlands Ministry of Foreign Affairs. Since then, TrustAfrica has administered grants to organizations that work to increase women's participation in politics and public administration and halt violence against women. In total, there have been 39 grants, impacting the lives of thousands of women.

"Advancing International Criminal Justice in Africa: State Responsibility, the ICC, and the AU -- Towards an Effective Advocacy Response"

Strategy Meeting Seeks to Engage Civil Society and Other Stakeholders in the Growing Backlash Against the International Criminal Court

In an effort to strategize around the growing dissatisfaction with the structures of democracy and governance in Africa, in particular the roles played by the African Union (AU), the International Criminal Court (ICC) and others, TrustAfrica is convening a strategy meeting on the ICC and Africa in collaboration with the MacArthur Foundation and the Center for Citizen Participation on the AU. The meeting, organized under the theme "Advancing International Criminal Justice in Africa: State Responsibility, the ICC, and the AU--Towards an Effective Advocacy Response," will take place in Nairobi, Kenya on November 14-16, 2011.

The meeting provides an opportunity for stakeholders, including CSOs, policy experts, scholars and individual activists to devise a civil society advocacy strategy that will effectively respond to the ICC backlash in Africa and give funders a better sense of how to engage in collaborative grant-making around these issues. Kenyan Chief Justice Dr. Willy Mutunga has agreed to deliver the Keynote speech. Participants will be drawn from all five geographic sub-regions of Africa, as well as the African Diaspora.

Coming at a time when African States under the AU have threatened to withdraw from the ICC, the strategy meeting aims at developing ways to promote more constructive debates about the ICC within the AU and move the discourse towards promoting national-level accountability for international crimes through entities such as the ICC.

For further information regarding the outcome of the meeting, please check the TrustAfrica Website.

New Publication Assesses the Legislative Environment for Civil Society

Analyzing challenges and opportunities in 18 nations

Together with the Southern Africa Trust, we have published a 429-page book about the legislative environment for civil society in 18 countries in Central, East and Southern Africa. Edited by Bhekinkosi Moyo, our program director, (Dis) Enabling the Public Sphere: Civil Society Regulation in Africa (Volume 1) also features a foreword by Graca Michel. It is available in hardcover, softcover and PDF format. The book was formally launched at recent dialogues in Dakar, Senegal, and Pretoria, South Africa.

Ezekiel Pajibo joined TrustAfrica in September 2011 as the Project Director for the Liberia Civil Society Initiative. Mr. Pajibo comes to us from Witts University where he was a Research Fellow for the Encyclopedia of Genocide in Africa project. A graduate of Howard University in the US, Mr. Pajibo has a remarkable track record in the fields of civil society advocacy and policy research. In the early 1980s (during the military rule of Samuel Doe), he served as the president of the Liberia National Students Union (UNSU) and was imprisoned by Doe and spotlighted by Amnesty international as a prisoner of conscience. He also worked for the Africa Faith and Justice Network as well as the American Friends Service Committee and as a consultant for AFRODAD, MWENGO and Human Rights Watch. At the end of the Liberian civil war in 2003, Mr. Pajibo returned home and worked as a consultant for the Open Society Institute and subsequently served as the Executive Director of the Center for Democratic Empowerment. He has written extensively and seminally on civil society issues and is a highly-respected champion for human rights in Africa. He speaks English, French and Krao.

Sue Telingator, Communications Specialist, comes to us with over 27 years of experience in the communications field. Most recently, she was the Development Outreach and Communications Specialist with USAID/Senegal. She has also worked for UNICEF and was a Peace Corps volunteer in Namibia. In addition to being an author and ghostwriter, Ms. Telingator has worked as a journalist for the Chicago Tribune, among several other publications. She also served as President of the National Writer’s Union in Chicago, where she helped in the fight for writer’s e-rights resulting in a landmark Supreme Court decision against TheNew York Times. She holds a bachelor’s degree from Barnard College, Columbia University and Master’s degrees from DePaul University in the US, and the Network University in The Netherlands. She speaks English and French.

TrustAfrica to Take Part in First Webinar Hosted by the European Foundation Centre

Digital storytelling is a 21st century take on the traditional art of storytelling - and foundations have never had more tools at hand to bring their work to life on screen. The EFC's first-ever webinar will focus on the value that digital storytelling (whether produced or funded by foundations) can have in achieving greater impact, whether it be for policy change, advocacy, learning, or engaging vulnerable or marginalised groups.

Two expert speakers will present case studies of how their respective organisations are involved in digital storytelling, what the benefits have been and why other foundations can benefit from capturing the essence of their work on camera.

Social networking sites are a great way to stay in touch with TrustAfrica — and to exchange ideas with others who share an interest in democracy and development in Africa. On Twitter and Facebook, we post short, timely reflections about issues of the day. On Picasa, we showcase photos of our events and the work of our grantees. On YouTube, we present interviews and videos about our work and the challenges facing Africa.

We extend a heartfelt thanks to all who responded to our last appeal for support. Your crucial contributions sustain our work and reduce our reliance on institutional donors.

Contributions to TrustAfrica, a 501(c)(3) organization that has earned the GuideStar Exchange Seal, are tax deductible in the United States to the full extent allowable by law. Please consider making a donation today to qualify for a tax deduction this calendar year.

TrustAfrica is dedicated to securing the conditions for democratic governance and equitable development in Africa, and we can't do it without people like you. We hope you'll visit our Website and blog often, follow us on Facebook and Twitter, read about our workshops and grant making, and join our $100 per year campaign.

A new year is upon us and with that, TrustAfrica has big plans! This year promises to hold more convenings, workshops and publications than ever before. In addition, as you'll learn below, we've taken on new projects, feted major dignataries, liased on major political movements and the need to strengthen social justice. We're communicating more, reaching out more and developing more as an organization going into its sixth year. Thank you for being a part of it all and for continuing to join us as we move forward.

TrustAfrica is the proud recipient of a $1.5 million grant from The William and Flora Hewlett Foundation to support a project entitled "The Learning Innovation Fund." The project will provide small grants and technical assistance to local organizations in four countries to improve literacy and numeracy skills for children during their first four years of primary school.

The project will target Senegal and Mali in West Africa and Uganda and Kenya in East Africa. These four countries provide an opportunity to pilot the project in both English and French thus offering a comparative learning opportunity. Additionally, the governments in these countries have demonstrated interest in development policy reform, opening the door to possibilities for future policy advocacy and the potential for scaling up proven innovations.

The primary goal of the project is to foster innovative learning approaches and environments for early learners who are currently not well served by existing education systems. Targeting children ages 5 - 11 years-old, the project will specifically seek to:

Significantly improve the literacy and numeracy competencies among early learners through cutting-edge innovations that are successfully piloted in different geographic locations and contexts;

Identify the enabling factors and feasibility probability for taking early-learning innovations to scale within the focus countries through outreach;

Strengthen the effectiveness of organizations that produce the early-learning innovations, through technical assistance provision, and peer-learning opportunities; and

Promote dissemination of the innovation results among relevant policy stakeholders.

Civil society organizations (CSOs) from 13 African countries, as well as several international organizations, convened in Nairobi, Kenya on November 15 - 17 for a strategy meeting on advancing international criminal justice in Africa. In light of the International Criminal Court's (ICC) focus on Africa, while ignoring crimes in other parts of the world, refusal to listen to requests to defer cases by the African Union (AU), and other issues, several AU member states have become non-cooperative and have threatened to withdraw from the ICC.

"Advancing International Criminal Justice in Africa: State Responsibility, the ICC, and the AU--Towards an Effective Advocacy Response," hosted by TrustAfrica, the CCP-AU, and the MacArthur Foundation, provided an opportunity for stakeholders, including CSOs, policy experts, scholars, and individual activists, to devise a strategic response to the ICC backlash and help engage funders in collaborative grant-making around these issues.

The convening included a candid appraisal of the historic relationship between the ICC and Africa and purposefully sought to shift the discourse from reactive to proactive, including how to address genuine concerns with the ICC's record in Africa without undermining the progress made so far on the continent.

In his keynote speech to the meeting, Kenyan Chief Justice, the Honorable Dr. Willy Mutunga called on CSOs to not lose sight of the fact that the ICC is a court of last resort, designed to step in where national institutions have failed. He therefore urged participants to work to strengthen institutions of governance on the continent, in particular robust investigatory, prosecutorial and penal institutions to deal with issues of impunity and serious crimes against humanity.

The ICC was represented by the Head of the Jurisdiction, Complementarity and Cooperation Division of the Office of the Prosecutor who gave a comprehensive description of the ICC's mandate, as well as a specific analysis of the current cases pending before the Court.

In keeping with the conference's intention to develop concrete plans for action, participating CSOs identified a range of advocacy and capacity building strategies at the national, continental and international levels. They also highlighted the need to enhance networking to effectively address cross-cutting issues. In addition, working groups were proposed to spearhead specific thematic interventions at various levels.

All in all, the conference was successfully able to focus attention on this critical issue and motivate stakeholders to continue to improve mechanisms to end impunity and seek justice, peace and reconciliation for victims of atrocities.

On January 17, 2012, as part of its mission, among others, to close the digital divide, TrustAfrica donated used computer equipment, televisions, air conditioners and cooking equipment worth approximately $20,000 to a local NGO, SENECLIC, to be distributed to needy schools. SENECLIC specializes in refurbishing used equipment and training school beneficiaries in repair and maintenance so that the equipment can remain viable.

"We believe that this batch of equipment will contribute to the wellbeing of beneficiaries," said Akwasi Aidoo, Executive Director of TrustAfrica. "An active citizen is an essential element for a prosperous and sustainable society and we hope this donation will help young children to become engaged citizens," he said.

The head of Seneclic, Mr. Ababacar Diop, added that Information and Communication Technology is a powerful tool which he hopes to advance by populating classrooms in Senegal with multimedia. "The main objective of Seneclic is to affect over 8,000 elementary schools in the national territory," he said.

Pictured, left to right, Ababacar Diop, Director of Seneclic and Akwasi Aidoo, Director of TrustAfrica, hold one of the laptop computers that was donated.

Conference Emphasizes Local NGOs Involvement in Policy through Fact-Finding Tools

On November 10-12, 2011, TrustAfrica was one of the co-sponsors of the United Nations Development Programme's 3-day workshop in Dakar, Senegal on how civil society can more effectively promote accountability of governments through governance assessments. In its role as both producers and users of governance data, civil society is perfectly positioned to intervene when it comes to public institutions, actors and policies, based on the evidence before it. Governance assessments help identify opportunities and diagnose deficits in governments but there needs to be a better understanding of how to translate this knowledge into practice.

The conference brought together more than 120 civil society practitioners, researchers and development practitioners from more than 30 countries, and representatives of the United Nations Development Programme (UNDP). It was organized by the UNDP Partnerships Bureau/Civil Society Division, the Bureau for Development Policy/Oslo Governance Centre and the Regional Bureau of Africa, with support from the UNDP-France Trust Fund together with four leading partners in the field of civil society and governance: TrustAfrica, CIVICUS, CONGAD and the African Governance Institute.

On December 5, 2011, more than 150 guests entered the doors of City Hall in Monrovia, Liberia to sit down for dinner with two very special guests. President of Liberia Ellen Johnson-Sirleaf and Leymah Gbowee joined dignataries, civil society representatives, members of government, friends and family to listen to music, enjoy fine dining, hear speeches and receive good wishes on the eve of their departure to Oslo, Norway to accept their awards. The occasion, organized through the Liberia Civil Society Initiative of TrustAfrica, was an opportunity to bring civil society and the government together and take pride in all the accomplishments Liberia has made since the war ended.

On February 28, 2012, TrustAfrica will host "Financing for Gender Equality: The Role of African Foundations" as a parallel event for the United Nations Commision on the Status of Women meetings held that week. The event will take place from 8:30 to 10:00 AM, at the Church Center, UN, in New York City. It will feature an exciting panel of presenters, including H.E. Ms. Bissi Adeleye-Fayemi, Co-Founder of the African Women's Development Fund (AWDF) and First Lady of Ekiti State, Nigeria, Ms. Roselynn Musa, Program Manager, Africa Women's Development and Communication Network (FEMNET), and Dr. Akwasi Aidoo, Executive Director of TrustAfrica. It will be moderated by Ms. Theo Sowa, Interim CEO, African Women's Development Fund. Hope to see you there!

Moustapha Diop, Finance Associate. Moustapha Diop joined the finance department of TrustAfrica in November, 2011. After various internships in various sectors (public and private), he joined the prestigious firm of Deloitte Touche Tomatsu Limited to serve as a financial auditor for five years where he gained considerable experience in several sectors including the NGO sector. Mr. Diop has a degree in polytechnics and trade in Ivory Coast with a specialization in audit and management control. As for extracurricular activities, Mr. Diop was Chairman of the Leo Club Stella Abidjan.

Timing Lama, Administrative Assistant, Liberia Civil Society Initiative. Timing Lama joined Trust Africa in November, 2011. Previously, she was an Administrative Assistant at AEP Consultants, Inc. a private firm in Monrovia, Liberia. Timing has a Bachelor's degree in Business Administration from Don Bosco polytechnic (Now Stella Maris Polytechnic) in Monrovia and is currently pursuing a master's degree in Business Administration (MBA) at the University of Liberia Graduate School. She is fluent in English.

Social networking sites are a great way to stay in touch with TrustAfrica — and to exchange ideas with others who share an interest in democracy and development in Africa. On Twitter and Facebook, we post short, timely reflections about issues of the day. On Picasa, we showcase photos of our events and the work of our grantees. On YouTube, we present interviews and videos about our work and the challenges facing Africa.

We extend a heartfelt thanks to all who responded to our last appeal for support. Your crucial contributions sustain our work and reduce our reliance on institutional donors.

Contributions to TrustAfrica, a 501(c)(3) organization that has earned the GuideStar Exchange Seal, are tax deductible in the United States to the full extent allowable by law. Please consider making a donation today to qualify for a tax deduction this calendar year.

TrustAfrica is dedicated to securing the conditions for democratic governance and equitable development in Africa, and we can't do it without people like you. We hope you'll visit our Website and blog often, follow us on Facebook and Twitter, read about our workshops and grant making, and join our $100 per year campaign.

TrustAfrica is making an impact! Perhaps you're not aware, but we have been reaching out to partners, stakeholders and interested parties all over the continent. Last month we were in Tunisia, discussing the drivers that led to the Arab Spring. In May we were in Zimbabwe, rapping, painting, dancing and debating about how the arts can encourage change. Here in our own Senegal we were lending a few neighbors a helping hand through our community grants program.

To really get a feel for some of the work taking place, check out the homepage of our Website and click on the "Impact" link just underneath the photo gallery or just click here. You'll see, hear and read news directly from our partners about the important work they are doing.

We are only as effective as the stakeholders we support. We hope you'll take a moment in your very busy day to take a look at some of the efforts taking place across the continent. We guarantee it will erase your sense of frustration and inspire you to advocate for changes in your own life. Impact is something that everyone can achieve. Whether on the local, national or Pan-African level, we encourage you to take action!

Call for Proposals for the Early Learning Innovations Fund

Deadline extended to August 15, 2012

TrustAfrica in partnership with the Hewlett Foundation, is inviting applications for grants to design and implement early learning innovation projects from organizations in Kenya, Uganda, Mali and Senegal. We are seeking organizations with a credible track record in the area of designing and implementing learning innovations, to submit applications for funding partnerships. At this stage, our 'Early Learning Innovations Fund' is at the pilot phase and we are looking at disbursing grants averaging US$55,000 for projects that can be implemented over 24 months, starting from October 2012.

The primary goal of the project is to foster innovative learning approaches and environments for early learners who are currently not well served by existing education systems. Targeting children ages 5 - 11 years-old, the project will specifically seek to:

Significantly improve the literacy and numeracy competencies among early learners through cutting-edge innovations that are successfully piloted in different geographic locations and contexts;

Identify the enabling factors and feasibility probability for taking early-learning innovations to scale within the focus countries through outreach;

Strengthen the effectiveness of organizations that produce the early-learning innovations, through technical assistance provision, and peer-learning opportunities; and

Promote dissemination of the innovation results among relevant policy stakeholders.

Applications for the grants can be found in both English and French on the TrustAfrica Website.

Dialogue in North Africa Offers Opportunity to Discuss a Way Forward for Social Change

Leading scholars and members of civil society gathered in Tunisia to debate critical issues related to the recent social and political unrest in various parts of North Africa during a workshop entitled "Major Drivers of Social Change in Africa-Overview and a Way Forward." The workshop, organized by TrustAfrica, brought together researchers, university professors, activists and civil society practitioners both to discuss and challenge existing practices related to social change.

Africa continues to face daunting challenges in terms of governance issues. While the events during the recent "Arab Spring" opened the door for popular movements promoting democracy and citizen-focused efforts to challenge existing government norms, the growth in citizen confidence and agency is not universally welcomed. Some governments feel the expanding civic space poses a threat to their previously unfettered control and hegemony. In several countries, governments have adopted autocratic and authoritarian responses to citizens' demands for more transparency and accountability while others stealthily seek to lengthen their terms in office. A number of governments have also introduced legislation designed to constrain, weaken, or even close down civil society organizations. Without doubt, this democratic recession poses a major threat to Africa's future stability and development.

The workshop was intended to discuss in detail the context under which the Arab Spring took place, and provide a platform for a dialogue between countries in North Africa and sub-Saharan Africa. Participants were drawn from Algeria, Egypt, Libya, Mauritania, Morocco, Tunisia, Mozambique, and Senegal. During the workshop there was a clear demand for more platforms like these, as well as the need to network the youth across the various countries of Africa. The youth are a critical factor to pay attention to during this time in Africa's history.

There were deep discussions also on religion and how it has been politicized. Another theme that came through strongly was that of the "post-modern coup." This new form of coup involves tactics by dictators on regulating the social media and using that space to target social activists.

In addition to the workshop, the meeting offered an opportunity for a preview of a new book edited by TrustAfrica. The book, entitled "(Dis)Enabling the Public Sphere: Civil Society Regulation in Africa (Volume 2)" is part of a three-volume series focused on the regulatory environment for civil society. Volume 2 focuses on North Africa and includes thematic discussions on the main drivers of change in the region, in particular, youth, women, religion and social media, based on the events that took place around the Arab Spring. The book builds on Volume 1, released in 2011, that focused on Southern Africa and some countries in Central and East Africa. A final volume covering West Africa is due out in 2013.

In an effort to play a greater role in supporting local communities in Senegal, TrustAfrica has established a Neighborhood Support Program (NSP). The first grant of the program was awarded to a women's group that processes, packages and sells local cereals. GIE and Defar Yaraax (GADY) is located in Hann Village, one of the poorest areas in the Dakar region. Through its Equitable Development program, TrustAfrica aims to improve the social and economic status of women in their community. It has awarded GADY a three-year grant for a total of $25,000.

The objective of the grant is to establish a cereals processing unit and provide training so that selected members of 25 women's groups will be able to pass on their skills to other women in the community. These efforts are intended to directly increase women's income and perhaps open the door to further opportunities for skills sharing and product distribution.

The trainings will take place in conjunction with the Institut Technologique Alimentaire (ITA), a local institution that works on research and development for food and nutrition.

Most recently, the project launched its activities during a ceremony that was attended by the Mayor of Hann, project participants and TrustAfrica staff. The hope is that through hard work, word of mouth and continued training, the project will quickly start to bring in profits that will not only benefit the community, but increase demand to the extent where the business can be self-sustaining.

Create, Inspire, Change Lights Up the Artistic and Activist Communities

Zimbabwe Alliance Harnesses the Power of Arts and Culture to Spark Fresh Ideas, New Approaches

As part of its strategy to use the arts and cultural activism as a means to advance social and political change, TrustAfrica's Zimbabwe Alliance, in conjunction with Magamba Cultural Activist Network and Pemberi Trust organized an exciting program in Harare Zimbabwe, May 1-6. Entitled "Create, Inspire, Change," the festival offered a platform to the usually marginalized youth voices and created an inspiring space for a wide range of artistic expression, including Hip Hop, Reggae, Graffiti, spoken word, painting, and theatre as a mechanism for addressing issues related to democracy, governance and social justice. As part of the program, artists, activists, academics and civil society actors attended critical discussions and workshops that offered practical skills sharing and collaboration and witnessed public performances that capped off the activities.

One highlight of the event was an interactive discussion session featuring the celebrated Senegalese musician, filmmaker, organizer and PanAfrican activist, Didier Awadi. Drawing on his experiences and background in combining the arts, politics and social causes, Awadi shared valuable experience and insights on the role of arts activism and protest in defending democracy in Senegal during its recent presidential elections.

New Fund Engages Civil Society to Advocate for International Criminal Justice

TrustAfrica is pleased to announce a new project, "The Fund to Advance International Criminal Justice in Africa." The project is a follow-up to a series of meetings on International Criminal Justice, the most recent of which took place in Nairobi, Kenya at the end of last year. The $1.15 million, multi-donor effort seeks to ensure greater collaboration and accountability among African states to transform the field of international criminal justice in Africa.

In particular, through a series of activities, the fund seeks to mobilize civil society around international criminal justice in the following manner:

Shepherd the creation and implementation of a joint multi-pronged civil society advocacy strategy for advancing international criminal justice in Africa, particularly those that strengthen the Rome Statute system;

Implement grantmaking to support the advocacy strategy;

Foster and coordinate a productive network of organizations and advocates who will implement the advocacy strategy; and

Track and evaluate progress in the implementation of the advocacy strategy.

This three-year multimillion dollar effort remains open to receiving new funding partners. In the meantime, interested stakeholders should continue to check the TrustAfrica Website for further information as the project progresses.

Our Team is Growing

Meet our newest staff members

Halima Mohamed, Philanthropy Program Advisor. Halima Mohamed joined us in April 2012 as our Philanthropy Program Advisor. Based in Johannesburg, Halima is focusing on developing knowledge building, outreach and advocacy on African philanthropy and advancing work on social justice philanthropy in Africa. She has previously worked at the Ford Foundation Office for Southern Africa, at the EDGE Institute, and as a long-term consultant to the Ford Foundation and the Global Fund for Community Foundations. She is an independent consultant and also serves on the Philanthropy for Social Justice and Peace Working Group and the Alliance magazine editorial board. She holds a Masters Degree in Development Studies, with distinction, from the University of the Witwatersrand -- with a research focus on social justice philanthropy in South Africa.

Social networking sites are a great way to stay in touch with TrustAfrica — and to exchange ideas with others who share an interest in democracy and development in Africa. On Twitter and Facebook, we post short, timely reflections about issues of the day. On Picasa, we showcase photos of our events and the work of our grantees. On YouTube, we present interviews and videos about our work and the challenges facing Africa.

We extend a heartfelt thanks to all who responded to our last appeal for support. Your crucial contributions sustain our work and reduce our reliance on institutional donors.

Contributions to TrustAfrica, a 501(c)(3) organization that has earned the GuideStar Exchange Seal, are tax deductible in the United States to the full extent allowable by law. Please consider making a donation today to qualify for a tax deduction this calendar year.

TrustAfrica is dedicated to securing the conditions for democratic governance and equitable development in Africa, and we can't do it without people like you. We hope you'll visit our Website and blog often, follow us on Facebook and Twitter, read about our workshops and grant making, and join our $100 per year campaign.

Welcome to our revised edition of TrustAfrica Now! TrustAfrica would like to ensure that you receive your newsletter in your preferred language. In order to do so, we need you to please click on the "Update Profile/Email Address" link at the very, very bottom of this email. When it takes you to your profile page, please be sure to complete the final question regarding your language preferences. In the future, you will only receive this email in your preferred language. Many thanks.

hat's New, What's Now, What's Next, Growing African Philanthropy" a three-day conference sponsored by the African Grantmaker's Network (AGN) was a terrific opportunity to participate in an exciting dialogue on the latest developments happening in philanthropy on the continent. Moderated by the formidable Deprose Muchena from OSISA, one session moved seamlessly into the next as attendees listened to keen insights provided by a wide range of luminaries, networked with nearly 400 guests, and nibbled on a variety of tasty dishes, all the while enjoying the wide-open spaces of the ultra-modern Turbine Hall in Johannesburg, South Africa.

The second annual AGN Assembly kicked off with welcome remarks by Janet Mawiyoo, AGN Chairperson and Executive Director of the Kenya Community Development Foundation. Participants were then treated to two surprise guests, H.E. Bongi Ngema, current First Lady of South Africa and H.E. Graca Machel, political activist and former First Lady of South Africa and Mozambique. Dr. Machel made a number of thought-provoking statements about the nature of philanthropy in Africa, including "Philanthropy starts in Africa with an idea and ends with a search for money, elsewhere it is the reverse." She urged philanthropists to "build a chain of solidarity with those we serve" and reminded them of the example of churches whose sustainability is through solidarity, even if they go through long periods without money.

After Dr. Machel departed, the morning plenary session started. Plenary discussions each day focused on the issues raised by the conference title. Topics for parallel sessions in the afternoons ranged from celebrity philanthropy in Africa to philanthropy's role in shifting power from North to South. Other high-level guests included Joaquim Chissano (Former President of Mozambique), Mamphela Ramphele (academic and former anti-apartheid activist), and Jay Naidoo (Actvist and Chair, Global Alliance for Improved Nutrition (GAIN)). The final day of the conference, The Zimbabwe Alliance, a project funded through a number of donors including TrustAfrica, gave a presentation on its activities and the challenges and opportunities the project faces.

Guests were invited to attend two separate awards ceremonies on consecutive evenings. The first, the Inyathelo Philanthropy Awards, honored several selfless South Africans and announced the 2012 AGN Philanthropy awardwinner, Mrs. Marwa El Daly, Founder and Chairperson of the Maadi Community Foundation in Egypt. The second night, guests were invited to the Drivers of Change Awards gala dinner, hosted by the Southern African Trust and the Mail & Guardian newspaper.

AGN is a Pan-African group comprising grantmaking organizations who work to strengthen the objective of African philanthropy on the continent. TrustAfrica is the current secretariat for the AGN. To learn more, kindly access the conference Twitter feed at #AGN or #AfricanGrantmakers or visit our photo gallery on Picasa.

TOWARD DEVELOPING A MORE JUST SOCIETY

A Critical Look at Social Justice Philanthropy in Africa and in the Arab Region

Immediately preceding the AGN conference, TrustAfrica, the Philanthropy for Social Justice and Peace Working Group and the AGN, in collaboration with the Arab Foundations Forum and the Global Fund for Community Foundations, brought together a small group of individuals from across the continent to begin a collective discussion on how to advance debate, build a body of knowledge, inform good practice and strengthen the impact of social justice philanthropy in Africa and in the Arab region. While definitions and understandings vary, broadly speaking "social justice philanthropy" refers to philanthropy that addresses the drivers underlying social, economic and political inequalities.

As the first convening on the continent focused specifically on this topic, it was no surprise that during the one and half days, challenging and complex discussions arose. Participants addressed issues ranging from how to define and understand social justice philanthropy in terms of movement building, to the nature of the risks taken; from examining issues of resource governance and redefining the meaning of enabling giving environments, to making hard choices about what money should or should not be accepted; from sharing experiences around civic action in enabling or oppressive environments, to how to manage power with various constituencies; and the disconnect between policy makers, donors and academia. These and other issues brought about critical reflection of the role philanthropy does, and should, play in developing a more just society.

The convening closed with a strong sense of energy and commitment to continue the self-examination it started. While this convening began as a small focused conversation, it is seen as the first of a series of discussions; and subsequent steps will seek to broaden and deepen the opportunities for such discussions.

HIGHER EDUCATION POLICY DIALOGUES HIT THE ROAD

Convenings in Several Target Countries Engage Networks, Reveal Gaps

The Higher Education Policy Dialogues have been making their way around the continent! In the last several months of 2012, the Higher Education program held meetings with local and state actors in Uganda, Tanzania and Nigeria. The dialogues are part of the core strategy of the program to promote transformation in higher education, which is critical to secure the conditions for democracy and equitable development in Africa.

In each of the four target countries (including Ghana), TrustAfrica has aligned itself with government officials, heads of institutions, umbrella bodies of vice chancellors, seasoned academics and development actors to strengthen networks and develop relevant and effective policies that will encourage positive growth in the sector. In collaboration with its local partners, namely Committee of Vice Chancellors (Nigeria), Uganda Vice Chancellors Forum (Uganda) and Committee of Vice Chancellors and Principals of Tanzania, it has held national policy dialogues during which it showcased the findings of its scoping studies and share this information with critical audiences.

These convenings have provided an opportunity for local actors to augment their agendas with a discussion around a broader range of critical education policy issues. Often, the gatherings have attracted the participation of heads of education ministries (including cabinet ministers), senior officials of other government ministries, parliamentarians and representatives of the private sector, in addition to the academic communities.

The dialogues have also unearthed some critical issues that need to be addressed; for example, in Nigeria, the dialogues generated some controversy when it was revealed that Nigerian students spend nearly $500 million a year to study abroad, rather than staying in their home country. In Tanzania, the Education and Vocational Training Minister stated that higher education would be the engine that will drive the country towards its goals, as defined by the nation's Vision 2025.

The Higher Education Policy Dialogues employ a variety of strategies to address the unique challenges facing higher education on the continent today. The program hopes to sustain the policy dialogues it has started as a means to improve conditions in areas such as governance, financing, collaboration, ethics and standards, research, planning, postgraduate training, and many more. The networks that have been formed are being encouraged to continue to push for reforms of the higher education sector in their respective countries and across the continent.

For more information on the dialogues, including discussion papers, podcasts and videos, please visit our Website at http://bit.ly/SjKsGT and click on the Conferences and Dialogues link on the lefthand side.

VISION FOR LIBERIA BECOMING REALITY

Activities are Underway to Shape the Country's Future

The government is taking steps to move the country forward in Liberia. Recently, a group of engaged stakeholders gathered to discuss the President's Vision 2030 Liberia Rising Project, a process whereby local Liberians were provided an opportunity to participate in determining the country's future through a series of meetings around the country, attended by HE President Ellen Johnson Sirleaf. Ezekiel Pajibo, Project Director for the Liberia Civil Society Initiative was invited to participate in the process. Last month, the discussions culminated in the President's office releasing a draft vision statement, produced during the National Vision Conference, convened in Gbarnga, Bong County. The statement officially ends the design phase of the Vision 2030 and declares the beginning of the operationalization and implementation of its recommendations.

In an effort to further encourage citizen participation and engagement in the exercise, the Liberia Civil Society Initiative recently awarded a $62,150 grant to the Liberian Media for Democratic Initiatives (LMDI). The grant is intended to allow LMDI to engage in a year-long series of dialogues on the Vision 2030 exercise using community outreach and media platforms to ensure the broadest possible participation and awareness by local populations. The intention is for the dialogues to be broadcast around the country.

Copies of the draft Vision statement can be found on our Website. Please scroll to the bottom of the page and click on the link. You can access more information on grantee LMDI here.

WE'RE GETTING A FACELIFT

New and Improved Materials Make Information Easier to Access and Understand

TrustAfrica is undergoing a facelift to improve its grants and communications materials. In an effort to ensure ease of use, greater understanding, and increased accountability, we have redesigned several key components of our grants templates, Website and Annual Report.

The Grants Department has been working for several months to improve the documents needed to apply for a grant from TrustAfrica. After reaching out to several stakeholders and incorporating their feedback, the newly designed templates, which are bi-lingual (English and French) will allow TrustAfrica to better assess the impact its grantees are having in their specialty areas. These information sheets, application forms and budget documents are designed to provide all the relevant information from grantees to best make an assessment of their potential viability as a TrustAfrica grant recipient. In addition, they ensure that TrustAfrica is able to meet its own transparency and accountability objectives as a grantmaking organization. The new templates are already in use and garnering great feedback from our grantee organizations.

In addition, our Website is being upgraded to accommodate all the growth that has taken place in our organization over the last several years. The new site will feature searchable grants and publications databases, an easy to navigate interface and lots more opportunities to better understand the important work our grantees are doing. We are also taking this opportunity to transition into an online annual report that will be more interactive and provide a quick snapshot of the successes and challenges we have faced over the last fiscal year.

We are excited about the many changes and hope you will be, too!

WE ARE GROWING...Meet Our Newest Staff Members

Lyne Mendy, Operations Manager Ms. Mendy joined us in June 2012. She became part of the permanent staff after working as a consultant for three months. She previously worked at the Ministry of Institutional Relations and at the Ministry of Social Action and National Solidarity in Senegal. Ms. Mendy has also worked in the healthcare industry as a Financial Specialist at Theracom, a CVS Caremark Company and as a Patient's Accountant at Suburban Hospital in the United States. She is a certified translator and holds a degree in Business Administration. She is fluent in English and French.

Jeanne Elone, Program Officer, International Criminal Justice Ms. Elone rejoins TrustAfrica as Program Officer for the International Criminal Justice fund. Previously, Ms. Elone coordinated research on North African civil society, examining the role of civil society in the political transformations that shook region in 2011 as well as analyzing the legal and regulatory environment in which these groups operate. She also worked with the ICBE Research Fund and managed grant-making in TrustAfrica's three core programs. Ms. Elone has lived in Cameroon, Burkina Faso, France, and the United States, working on a range of issues from fair trade and agricultural subsidies to human rights to development finance. She studied at Columbia University in New York and at the National Institute for Political Science in Paris and is currently pursuing a doctorate at the School for Advanced International Studies (Johns Hopkins University) in Washington, D.C. She is bilingual in French and English.

Angela Naggaga, Project Director, International Criminal Justice Project Angela Naggaga joined us in December 2012. She previously worked for over six years as Deputy Director of the Institute for Human Rights and Development in Africa (IHRDA), a pan-African NGO based in the Gambia focusing on using African Union human rights treaties and mechanisms to advance human rights in Africa. Prior to joining IHRDA, Angela was an Assistant Lecturer at the faculty of law of Makerere University in Uganda (four years), and also served as Senior Legal Officer of the faculty's Refugee Law Project providing legal aid to refugees and asylum seekers (five years). Ms. Naggaga has a Bachelor of Laws degree from Makerere University, and a Master of Law from Cambridge University in the United Kingdom. She is fluent in English and is working on her French.

TOGETHER.PROMOTING AFRICAN AGENCY.

TrustAfrica is dedicated to securing the conditions for democratic governance and equitable development in Africa, and we can't do it without people like you. We hope you'll visit our Website and blog often, follow us on Facebook and Twitter, read about our workshops and grant making, and join our $100 per year campaign.